Due to overcrowding at manatee critical care facilities (CCFs) like Zoo Tampa, Jacksonville Zoo, and SeaWorld, Orlando, the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) requested assistance due to the high numbers of manatees needing rescuing this winter. Approved facilities were asked to hold animals, which would relieve the overcrowding pressure, until rehabilitated animals could be released.
To answer the request, Zoo Miami partnered with local Marine Animal Rescue Society (MARS) to prepare a temporary holding pool. MARS loaned the pool to Zoo Miami to hold 2 young, orphaned, female manatees until they could be released or returned to the CCF once the overcrowding situation was resolved. Zoo Miami joined the MRP in the fall of 2023 as the first step in the zoo’s plan for a future expansion to include manatees. Many staff at Zoo Miami have experience working with manatees or are currently volunteering with partners in the MRP. Before the manatees arrived, the pool & filtration system were approved by the MRP, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), & SeaWorld. The 2 manatees were then delivered by SeaWorld to Zoo Miami on January 15th, where the dedicated animal care staff performed 24-hour observations to ensure the manatees were adapting to their new home. To have the best chance of a successful release, each manatee must meet a set of pre-determined measurements & pass a veterinarian exam, following strict guidelines outlined by the MRP. At this time, the Chief of Animal Health for Zoo Miami, Dr. Gwen Myers, along with other MRP veterinarians concluded that these manatees do not meet the requirements for release, so they will be returned to SeaWorld until they meet the benchmarks for release. SeaWorld is now able to house them due to several manatees being successfully rehabilitated & released this week. Through the Zoo Miami Foundation, TruckMax donated the use of a truck to transport the two manatees back to SeaWorld, Orlando. We will continue to aid & support manatee rehabilitation and release as a part of the MRP. Zoo Miami is committed to the conservation of animals in South Florida & across the globe.
📸: Ron Magill
